Our New Modern Office Gets Noticed by the 2007 Design Competition

Some of you have seen it in person or maybe taken a virtual tour on www.dreamsmiledental.com, but either way, our new award winning office is definitely "not your typical dental office". Drs. Ronkin and Shwartzman have built a state-of-the-art neuromuscular center where advanced TMJ/TMD treatment is performed.

TMD, short for temporomandibular (jaw joint) disorder, affects more than 15 percent of American adults. It is particularly prevalent among women. Common signs and symptoms include headaches, even migraines, pain in the head and neck, painful clicking or popping of the jaw joint, swallowing problems, excessive snoring or sleep apnea and limited mouth opening, among other things.

TMD treatment is done with a computer assisted K-7 Evaluation system which helps diagnose the proper position of the lower jaw and thus allows us to place the highest quality restorations in order to uphold that bite. The K-7

Evaluation system is the latest and best technology that establishes the bite with computer assistance. It analyzes the data of muscle positioning at activity and rest, the sound in the temporomandibular joint, and the movement of the jaw.

Our ultra-modern facility features the latest neuromuscular equipment, a modern and comfortable patient lounge, high tech design, a relaxation room with an aerodynamic massage bed for patients to "tune out" after a procedure and a variety of amenities ranging from gourmet teas and coffees to paraffin treatments and aroma therapy. Ask for a tour at your next appointment!

How Much Do You Know About Your Child’s Teeth?

Most people don’t realize this but tooth decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease. It is five times more common than asthma, four times more common than early-childhood obesity and twenty times more common than diabetes. There are various overlooked reasons for why oral health should be addressed as early as possible.

Unfortunately, untreated caries (tooth decay) in

baby teeth can destroy the child’s teeth, and have a strong, lasting effect on a child’s overall general health. Since primary teeth are necessary for adequate chewing of food, they play a large role in proper digestion at a young age. Additionally, pain and infection in permanent teeth can be caused by decayed baby teeth. Since baby teeth retain space for permanent teeth, if decayed primary teeth are left untreated, it can lead to gingivitis that can affect the spacing and health of the permanent teeth.

Development of sound pronunciation and speech is also in strict dependence on primary teeth and healthy teeth are of great importance for a baby’s emotional state. According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 4 million US children have visually evident cavities and 70% of these children have unfilled cavities. Dr. Foster, the pediatric Dentist at Dream Smile Dental recommends a child be taken to the dentist six months after the first tooth erupts or upon the child’s first birthday.

A Word On Insurance Plans From Our Account Manager

By Nicole Baker
Did you know the yearly maximum on dental insurance has not gone up much since 1959. In 1959 most plans had a maximum of $1000. That is what most plans have now over 40 years later. You should not let your insurance company dictate your dental needs because of the yearly maximum. We encourage you to do what is clinically necessary regardless of the maximum and will work with you to make sure it is affordable.

Your insurance company offers two professional cleanings per year but what they do not make clear is if you max out of your yearly benefits your cleanings will not be covered. Although you may have to pay out of pocket it is always important to keep up with your regular hygiene visits to maintain good oral health and restorative work.

Co-payments are generally determined based on which type of service is being performed. Dental services are generally broken down into three categories:

Type I:
Preventative/Diagnostic: exams, cleanings, x-rays, fluoride treatment

Type II:
Basic: fillings, extractions, endodontic, periodontal depending on the insurance company endo. & perio. may be considered a major service

Type III:
Major: crowns, bridges, dentures, partials, implants (if covered on the plan)

* Please keep in mind this is just a standard breakdown and some plans may vary. That is why it is important to know your individual insurance benefits

Times have changed and so has dentistry. Dental implants are a safe and successful option as opposed to a bridge. Implants are functional, durable, and a lifetime replacement for missing teeth. Most insurances cover implants as an alternative to a bridge under major services including the crown on the implant.

Orthodontics is not just for children and in fact some insurances offer coverage for adults. Our office specializes in Invisalign which is a series of clear, removable aligners that are changed every two weeks. Invisalign is normally covered by insurance to the same extent as conventional braces and is not much more in price.

VELScope

Always at the forefront of the Industry: Dream Smile Dental’s New Cancer Screening technology hits the News!

Many people may not know that every hour of every day one person dies of oral cancer in the North America. Only 35% of cases are diagnosed early enough.

Dream Smile Dental is now equipped to discover potentially malignant lesions in time to save lives by using an oral cancer screening device called Velscope. Velscope uses fiber optics to detect oral cancer prior to surface exposure.

Follow the following Link to see what NBC 4 has to say about this ground breaking technology.

To find out more about Velscope visit our website at www.DreamSmileDental.com